Receding chair for theaters and the like



Sept. 23, 1952 E. s. DIEHL RECEDING CHAIR FOR THEATERS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets$heet 1 Filed July 1, 1946 In uelltor 17 $2 g? Z 17220.9 offlzeizf y M a Attorneys II [I E. S. DlEHL Sept. 23, 1952 RECEDING CHAIR FOR THEATERS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1, 1946 Inventor 2mm. W EMzszw Sept. 23, 1952 E. s. DlEHL RECEIDING CHAIR FOR THEATERS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 1, 1946 I :1 veutar Sept. 23, 1952 E. s. DlEHL RECEDING CHAIR FOR THEATERS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 1, 1946 Inventor WWW 3m Patented Sept. 23, 1952 RECEDING CHAIR FOR THEATERS AND. a r THE LIKE.

Elias s. Di m,

Essa s", Application July 1, 1946, Serial No. 680,630

Claims. (01. 155-115) The present invention relatesto ways and means to facilitate freedom of movement of inable space for passers-by is limited, results de-' sired being obtainable through the use of occupant controlled receding chairs. 7

It isa matter of common knowledge that in order to conserve space and to handle and serve capacity audiences theatres, auditoriums and similar places of amusement, are generally such that passageways leading laterally from the main aisles between rows of chairs are narrow and needlessly limited. This is especiallyso when, with the chairs of the row wholly or partly cc.- cupied, incoming and outgoing passers-by meet with well-known obstructions. As a matter of fact and due to space limitations.allconcerned are disturbed and exasperated, and with these and other inconveniences inmind, I contemplate the adoption and use of receding individually shiftable chairs, the latter, when shifted rear.- wardly and regulated by the occupant, serving to sufficiently widen the passagewayto allow. for expeditious and convenient movements of passers.

Briefly, and in carrying out the preferred embodiment of the invention, I provide an especially constructed frame in which the chair is shiftably mounted, the details of construction. beingsuch that the chair, when set in motion, is rearwardly movable but is also lifted and elevated from a low to high position, whereby to clear the legs of the occupant immediately in the rear of the. momentarily shifted chair.

In'carrying out the principles of the invention, I have planned and worked out a number of embodiments, these stemmingufrom 'the common thought of utilizing a fixedframelstructure and a chair movably mounted therein, the chair beingofan ordinary type but the means for mounting itbeing; such that-the chair rides backand forth toachieve thedesired results and, 'in so doing, is shifted by mechanical devices so that in its rearmost position the seat. of thechair assumes a position elevated suflicientlyito. avoid contact with the occupant of the chair immediately in therear of the shifted-chair.

I aim, in carrying out the simplest embodiment of theinvention, toprovide a structure in which the occupant simply; catches .ahold of; the seat and, while gradually rising to a standing position, pushes same .rearwardly, said seat having legs and said legs having rollers operable in inclined tracks A glide or shift rearwardly in-its normal at rest position.

and to rise to an e1e-. vated'plane and to thereafter return, by gravity, to a normal seating position.

- In addition to the above, it is invention to carry forward the same basic principles and to incorporate special button controlled hydraulic or air powering devices, whereby-to uti j lize the latter instead'of, manual effortin achiev ing desired ends. I s

It is alsowithin the spirit and sphere of the', invention to employ other, powering means and devices for lifting and loweringpurposes and it is therefore another; object of theinvention utilize; in certain instances instead of the hydraulic jack' devices, an electric motor" and sprocket chain drive, this as hereinafter described. v

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings. 1

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is an assembly view showing, at the center, a chair. of one row and showing, in addition, chairs in adjacent rows, one in front and one in back, this to illustrate the receding and clearance principle of operation.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a' receding chair constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, the same being shown Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed section taken approximatelyontheplane of the line 3-3 of;

Figure l. I

Figure 4 is a view similar to-Figure 1 with one of the side frames removed to show the construction and adaptability of the'lower parts of the structure. V. s

Figure 5 is a rear view of Figures 1, 2 and 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the central portions of the base of the frame structure.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing a modification in which a pivoted jack is employed as a mechanical lifting device.

Figure 8 is a section occurring approximately on the plane of the line 8-8 of Figure 10. I

Figure!) is a view similar to Figure 8 with portions of one of the uprights broken away to show internal track means. i

Figure 10 is a cross-section on the vertical line l0l0 ofFigure '7, looking in the direction of the 5151 1 951;thi1$ Qau$ing,- ,thea chair, as a unit, to arrow. 7

an obj ect of.

operable chair and frame structure forming one of the simplest embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive. Reference being had first to Figure 1, thisfigurehas before indicated, is employed to show the relationship of chairs in three rows tobring out the receding and clearance principles.- That is to say, there is a chair in one row A which may besai'd to. be the rear row, a chair B in what may be designated a front row and then the remaining chair.-

C, intermediate row, fully drawn to bringout the complete construction and also the mode of operation in full and dotted lines. It was thought advisable, in preparing the drawings, to show a three row arrangement in order to illustrate the principle of operation and to simply show the chairs in the rows A and B in fragmentary form. However, the invention is not so much in the idea of a receding and elevated chair as it is in the particular-construction of the chair itself. I

Referring now to thedrawings by detailed ref-- erence-numerals it will be seen that the relatively stationary frame is denoted by the numeral 15' and this comprises a base frame (see Fig. 6) including'transverse end members It and front and rear connecting straps or members i! and E8.

The numerals l9 designate inclined risers orramps with longitudinally curved grooves forming tracks; The numerals 2i designate relatively fixed uprights connected at their upper ends to horizontal arm rests 22.

The chair, as a unit, isdenoted by the numeral 23' (see Fig. 4) and comprises a suitably cushioned seat 24 and a back rest 25, the back rest being hingedly mounted in any suitable manner as indicated at 26. The seat is provided with rigid X-shaped legs 2-! with a reinforcing and spacing rod 28'connecting same. The X-shaped legs or leg frames are inwardly of the uprights El and also inwardly of the ramps l 5 and in-fact ride in slidablecontact with the inner faces of said ramps. ends of the legs are provided with anti-friction chair shifting and lifting rollers 29 operable in the grooves or tracks 20'. Suitable bolts 30 are employed asjournals for the rollers 29 and these are threaded into the legs and have smooth shank portions 3i which serve asanchor pins for eyes 32 on the resilient straps-33. These straps, it. will be noted, are shaped and arranged as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5. That is to say, the strapshave their curved upper ends rigidly mounted just above the hinge means on the back. restof the chair. The lower front ends of the strapsextend beneath the seat and down between the tracks where the eyes 32 movably embrace the anchor pins 31. The means 31 and 32 form hinges for the lower frontal ends of said straps 3B. The purpose of these straps is tocause the back rest to raise in approximately normal line compared to the at rest full line position seen in Figure 1. In accordance with the construction just de-- As brought out in Figure 3, the lower 4 scribed, it will be seen that by catching a hold of the seat and pushing same from right to left in Figure 1, the rollers 29 ride in the tracks or grooves 20 and follow the are or curvature of said tracks and in so doing, the seat moves from a horizontal position to the tilted or inclined dotted line position illustrated in Figure 1. However, due to the connecting straps 33 between theback rest and the anchor pins 31, the back rest moves up in the same line, thus rendering'the' operation successfully accommodating to intended purposes. It is desired, obviously to hingedly connect the back rest and seat and to provide this link or strap connection between the hinged back rest and seat and leg frame structure to cause the back rest and seat to take the angular relationship seen Figure 1. The seat not only recedes but tilts and this tilting movement is I sufilci'ent, ordinarily, to provide leg clearance for the occupant immediately in the rear of the shifted or adjusted chair.

Attention isv now directed. to the modified form' erence numerals I employed to identify identicalparts. The obvious purpose of these two figures is to illustrate, in a broad way, the factthat a certain type of powering device may be utilized, if desired, and substituted for thepowergjackalready described. In connection with thisalter nate construction, it will be seen that a suitable electric motor 18. is attached to and suspended from a bracket 19 on the under side of the seat 57 of. the-chair. The shaft of the motor is provided. with a sprocket wheel to accommodate a sprocket chain 86, said sprocket chain. being trained over a complemental sprocket wheel 8| fixedly mounted on the shaft for purposes of rotating said shaft. Inv practice, an appropriate guard 82 is provided for the sprocketgea'rs and chain assembly. As is evident to the reader, my invention as herein disclosed in ways to comprehend adaptations employing both hand and power actuated structures, the simpler embodiment being manually utilized, and the other embodiments being powered from suitable. source of energy. The hydraulic jack means and electric motor means constitute examples of appropriate pow-' ering devices susceptible of. use. I

In the electric motor construction just described, it is obvious that the motor drives the sprocket means which in turn drives the shaft-55. This; shaft controls. the cogs 53 on opposite ends thereof which cogs mesh'with the rack'teeth 52.

I. also. desire to. have theinvention interpreted as comprehending suitable powering means which can be. button controlled for purposes of moreor-less automatically operating'the chair for receding'and lifting purposes. This is'an important phase of the invention and is herein shown in order to acquaint the reader'with the range of the inventive ideas herein involved. I direct atten-- tion thereforato the lifting jack equipped chair construction shown in Figures 7 and 10 in particular. As illustrated in Figure 7 for example, the base plate of the rigid frame structure is denoted by the numeral 4'! and this supports perpendicular uprights 48.. The uprights are in the form of rectangular hollow casings with suitable arm rests 49 atop same. The uprights are'interiorl constructedto provide co-acting'L-shaped tracks 50 and 5|, theseh'avinggearteeth'52toaccommodate pinions or gears -53'on horizontal shafts 5'4 and 55. These shafts operate in L-slots 54aand 55a and are mounted in suitably shaped depending-legs or equivalent" members 56 supported and 'c'arried by the seat 51 of the chair 58. The back rest is differentiated by the numeral' 59 and, usually, is connected rigidly to seat 51, as is obvious. By providing-the shafts and cogs or gears; the lifting and receding'steps or motions of the chair are rendered positive and rigid.

In the drawings, I have shown, as one form of powering means, an air or hydraulic lifting jack 60. This comprises a cylinder 6! hingedly attached'to the base as at 62 and hingedly attached to 'theunderside of the seat of the chair, as at 53. Specifically, the cylinderis anchored at 62v believe that the button and the valve arrangement shown somewhat diagrammatically in Figure 11 will suffice. I mention this because'Figure 11 has been utilized to avoid the necessity'of show-' ing, in the other figures the complicated arrangement of pipe lines. What I am primarily interested in is the lifting and lowering jack and. the chair structure shown in Figure 7 with any suitable button controlled device for operating the same. However, as stated,-Figure 11 may be necessary to facilitate anunderstanding of one arrangement of button control structure. Here the hose line 65 is connected with a main button 6'! which is positioned on the arm rest shown in Figures'l, 8 and 9. The button proper is indicated at 68 and is adapted to be depressed by the occupant of the chair. In so doing, it operates a spring returned valve 69 which controls the supply of fluid under pressure through the line!!! from a compressor or other source (not shown). This is possible because at the time the other valves in the line 10 are open. Incidentally, the line 7! denotes the return pipe to the compressor. This closes 'oiIwhenthe line H! is open and is opened when line 10 is closed by the valve 69. It follows that under normal circumstances, if the occupant of the chair desires to operate the lifting jack all that he does is to press the button 68' located conveniently on one of the arm rests. It is believed that this method of raising and lowering the chair is clear. However, to go into further foolproofing phases, it will perhaps be necessary to utilize extra safety control buttons or valve devices such as for example at 12 and 13. These are of duplicate construction and the buttons are denoted at 14 and 15. They are spring returned and also function as valves as is brought out in section in Figure 11. There will be one button, as said before, on one arm rest and another on the other arm rest and they will preferably be positioned for convenient use by a passer as shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9. The idea is that there will perhaps be instances where a passer will want to cut out the operation of the lifting jack upon his own initiative to avoid unnecessary collision between passers and chair occupants. So for the convenience-of a passer the buttons 14 and 15 are provided to close off the supply of fluid under pressure to the lifting jack- It is also quite possible that an auxiliary device will have to be used on the back-rest of" each. chain This will be in the form of a T- shaped actuator or the likeas indicated at 16-.

chair can take it upon himself to catch holdof the T-shaped device 16 and close off the valve 11 in the line to prevent the chair from coming back on himwhen in an inopportune or otherwise unsafe position. It follows therefore, that button controlled valve devices are provided in the fluid.

supply lines and are operable from front and rear; of the chair and that these valve devices are for passer's to utilize, if necessary, independently of the occupant of the chair. I am primarily interested in the main control button or device 6! in the fluid'supply line for regulating the flow andreturn of' fluid in the supply line and for regulating the flow and 'return of fluid to the lifting pump. I have included the auxiliary devices I2, 13 and I? as precautionary appliancesand have not particularlydetailed the construction and arrangements since they are auxiliary 1 and perhaps superfluous devices. In the construction just described, it is obvious that by turning on the fluid, so to speak, the jack is operated and the jack in turn, lifts the chair from thenormal position seen in Figure '7, to the dotted line position also there shown. When'the prestherefore, primarily concerned with the form of chair disclosed in Figures '7 to 13 inclusive. In

the latter figures, I disclose two embodiments of powering devices, one a hydraulic lift, and 'the other an electric motor (Figures 7 to 11 on the one hand and Figures 12 and 13 on the other hand). In reference to these powering devices or units, I contemplate the provision, in actual practice, of any suitable powering devices for-lifting and lowering the chair as a unit. Itfollows that the essence of the invention has todo with a-shiftable'theatre chain construction, characterized by frame means fixedly attached to a floor or other stationary foundation, a chair which is made up of a seat and back rest, theback rest in substantially fixed relation to the seat, and appropriate means, preferably that disclosed in Figures 7 to 13, which serves to anchor and thus movably fasten the chair to the frame means, said latter means being carried by the chair and having slidable connection with the frame means and causing the seat to rise (1) vertically to a predetermined elevation, and then (2), to shift rearwardly in a horizontal plane, the seat remaining on an even keel and, therefore, constantly level and parallel in relation to the floor during the up and back movements.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty'sufflcient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangements of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

- 1. A theatre chair of the class described comprising. a stationary base having. uprights provided with vertically disposed L-shaped tracks, a liftable and l'owerable chairlsituated between said uprights and including a seat and relatively fixed backrest, said seat being provided with depending leg members parallel to said uprights, sh'aftsmounted for rotation inthe lower portions of said leg members andprovided on their outer ends with fixed cogs operable in said tracks, said tracks having rack teeth ranging from endto end, said cogs being'geared by saidteeth-for positively feeding said shafts upwardly-and rear-wardly, and forwardly and downwardly in said tracks, and means for rotating and driving at least one of said shafts.

2. A theatre chair of the class described comprising a stationary base having uprights provided with vertically disposed L-shaped tracks, a liftable and lowerable chair situated between said uprights and including a seat and relatively fixed back rest, said seat being provided with depending leg members parallel to said uprights, shafts mounted for rotation in the lower portions of said leg members and provided on their outer ends with fixed cogs operable in said tracks, said tracks having rack teeth ranging from end to end, said cogs being geared by said teeth forpositively feeding said shafts upwardly and rearwardly, and forwardly and downwardly in said tracks, an electric motor mounted on the underside of said seat and liftable and lowerable with the seat, and an operating connection between said motor and one of said shafts.

3. Aliftable and receding theatre chair comprising a stationary horizontal base having a pair of spaced parallel uprights, each upright being a hollow casing and being provided interiorly with a pair of complemental L-shaped tracks, each track embodying a vertical branch and an elevated rearw-ardly directed horizontal branch and saidbranches being'provlded with rack teeth, the inner opposed walls of the respective uprights being provided with pairs of L-shaped slots and the respective slots being in registry with cdacting forward and rearward tracks, a chair situated between said uprights and embodying a horizontal seat anda vertical back rest fixed to the rearward end of said seat, leg members fixed. to and depending from the under side of said seat and disposed in spaced parallelism to the inward slotted walls of said uprights, a pair of horizontal shafts disposed between the respective legs and Journaled for rotation in bearings provided therefor in the lower end portions of said legs, the end portions of the respectiveshafts extending through the adjacent L -shaped slots and projecting for operation into the respective forward and rearward tracks, and a pinion fixedly mounted on the end portions ofthe shafts and in mesh with their respective rack teeth.

4. The structure specified in claim 3, and an electric motor secured to the underside of said seat, and sprocket and chain means affording a constant driving and operating connection between said motor and one of said shafts.

5. A liftable and receding theatre chaircomprising a stationary horizontal base having a pairof spaced parallel uprights, eachupright pro-- videdwith an L-shaped rack embodying a vertical branch and an elevated rearwardly directed horizontal branch, a chair situated between said uprights and embodying a horizontal seat and a vertical back rest fixed to the rearward end of said seat, leg members fixed to and depending from the underside of said seat and parallel to the inward surfaces of said uprights, a horizontal shaft mounted for rotation in bearings provided therefor in said leg members, the end portions of said shaft being in close proximity to the respective racks, and pinions fixed on said end portions and in mesh with their respective racks, said uprights being in the form of hollow casings wholly enclosing said racks, the inner vertical walls of said casings having L- shaped slots in registry with the coacting L-shaped racks, and the end portions of said shaft extending throughand being operable in the L-shape'd slots.

ELIAS S. DIEHL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

